£3m Institute flats scaled back
12 April 2012
The redevelopment of the former Commonwealth Institute in Holland Park is being scaled back after criticism from the council and English Heritage.
Qatari-owned developers Chelsfield Partners employed Rem Koolhaas to design three blocks of flats, intended to pay for the refurbishment of the protected building. But Kensington and Chelsea said the nine-storey blocks would overwhelm the Institute.
The developers have removed one storey from the plans and are taking electrical installations off rooftops and lowering floor-to-ceiling heights of the flats. The number of flats, hoped to sell for up to £3million each, has also been cut from 72 to 62.
